Comprehensive Aeroelastic Analysis and Test Solutions

ATA’s capabilities include static and dynamic loads estimation, flutter prediction, aeroelastic-driven design optimization, ground and flight testing, model correlation, and certification. ATA offers a turnkey certification service that includes aeroelastic analysis, ground vibration testing, and flight testing support. The turnkey service allows FAA flutter and loads certification to be achieved in collaboration with one of ATA’s designated engineering representative (DER) partners or through ATA collaboration with a customer DER.

Flutter Analysis

ATA has performed aeroelastic analyses for many aerospace systems ranging from individual lifting surface components to full aircraft with closed-loop control systems. ATA’s flutter analysis methods aim for early prediction of flutter, divergence, and nonlinear oscillations. ATA also has experience in design optimization geared toward flutter mitigation. ATA uses panel methods (such as ZAERO and Nastran), as well as more sophisticated computational aeroelastic techniques based on computational fluid dynamics (CFD), with experience in the subsonic, transonic, supersonic, and hypersonic flight regimes.

Model Correlation and Updating

A test-correlated finite element model (FEM) is needed to confidently predict the aeroelastic stability of an aircraft and demonstrate that flight envelopes are free of flutter instabilities and vehicles are safe for flight testing. Correlation and model-tuning efforts are part of many modal survey projects performed by ATA. Model updating is performed using Nastran and ATA’s Attune™ software to rapidly identify changes to the FEM needed to yield a test-verified model. Attune can match both modal frequencies and shapes, enabling us to investigate much larger changes to the model, resulting in faster convergence to a correlated FEM.